by Stacy-Deanne
He twisted his lips. “Fuck.”
“Didn’t you realize we’d check her phone?” Dee observed his demeanor. “We saw everything you sent her. You were angry she broke it off.”
“Okay, I was angry, but I didn’t kill her.” He moved his legs. “I didn’t mean what I said. I loved Lang. Why would I kill her?”
“You know who would?” Connie asked.
“Someone who might’ve been jealous?” Dee shrugged one shoulder. “Someone with an axe to grind with Lang?”
“Someone who wanted her out the way?” Connie squinted. “Your girlfriend Danita, perhaps?”
“No.” He frowned. “She wouldn’t do anything like that.”
“It’s possible,” Dee said. “She’s your girlfriend, and you were cheating on her.”
“Did Danita know about Lang?” Connie asked.
“Danita wouldn’t kill anyone and I wouldn’t either.” He sat back, rubbing his beige slacks. “Isn’t this illegal? Questioning me without my parents?”
Dee leaned in between the seats. “No, but lying to the police is.”
“I’m not lying. I didn’t kill Lang.”
“Can you be positive Danita had nothing to do with it?” Connie pointed at him. “You can’t, can you?”
“Please don’t talk to Danita.” Seriousness swept across Robin’s face. “I care about her and I don’t want her to get hurt.”
“Why were you with Lang then?” Connie asked.
“It’s complicated.” He fidgeted, stroking the diamond in his left ear. “I had all these emotions inside.”
Dee glanced between his legs. “I bet you did.”
“It wasn’t just sex with me and Lang. She got me in a way even Danita didn’t but now she’s gone.” He grabbed his backpack. “Can I go now?”
Dee frowned. “Yep.”
CHAPTER SIX
A Week and a Half Later
When Jonathan returned with the glass of tea, he found Officer Lucian Stavropoulos watching the women in the indoor pool from the hallway.
Jonathan tottered toward him, recognizing yet another one of Lucian’s weaknesses. “Here you go.”
“Thank you.” With his hand pressed to the glass, Lucian gazed through the window as the women of The Circle swam half-naked in white bikinis.
The desire in Lucian’s eyes reminded Jonathan what a lucky man he was to own such beauties. “You like the tea?”
Lucian sipped, eyes still on the women.
“Do you like the tea?”
“Huh?” Lucian shifted his weight, a hard-on bulging from his black pants.
“I pissed in the tea,” Jonathan said. “You like it?”
Lucian clamped his lips on the glass, not paying any attention.
“Jesus.” Jonathan laughed. “Hello.” He slapped Lucian’s back.
Lucian jumped, his bushy, black eyebrows dancing. “Sorry. My mind’s somewhere else.”
“I know where it is.”
“What’s it like?” Lucian’s ebony eyes twinkled. “To have all this money and these women?”
“It’s heaven.” Jonathan tilted his glass inward. “My own little paradise.”
“I’d kill for your life.”
“Keep playing your cards right and you’ll have enough money to at least pretend you’re as rich as me.” Jonathan slipped his hand into his pocket. “So? Do we have a deal or not?”
Lucian’s cheeks raised. “I don’t think so.”
Jonathan leaned on the glass. “Why not?”
“You have any idea what could happen if people find out the shit I’ve done for you? Not only could I lose my badge, I’d go to prison.”
“I saved your father’s life when he had no one else now I want you to save mine. Without Deidra, I’ll die.”
“Think of how I feel. I’ve known Dee for years.” Lucian looked into his glass. “In the department we’re family.”
“Think of the good this will do her.” Jonathan gripped the back of Lucian’s neck. “This is where she belongs, and I love her.”
“What about Winston? She’s having his baby.”
“I’ll worry about Winston.” Jonathan pressed his fingertips into the glass. “Did Winston cure your father’s cancer? No. It was my medicine and my expertise and damn it Lucian, you’ll repay this debt for as long as you live.”
“Jonathan, be reasonable. No way I can pull off what you’re asking.”
“Come now. Resourceful guy like yourself. You must know someone who can do this job.”
Lucian rocked, watching the women again. “I might, but I’m warning you. You get involved with him and you might regret it.”
“For Deidra, I regret nothing.” Jonathan opened the double doors to the pool. “I want to meet him. ASAP.”
****
Connie returned from the lounge to find a yellow rose on her desk. “What in the world?” She looked around at the officers, searching for a clue how the flower had gotten there.
“Hm. Nice flower.” A female detective sprinted past.
Connie sniffed the fruity rose. “Who would leave a rose on my desk and not say anything?” Grayson’s handsome face popped into her head and she got her phone, giggling as she dialed his number.
“Hey,” he answered. “How’s it going, beautiful?”
“Stop being coy.” She twirled the flower in her fingers. “You’re so romantic.”
“Um, glad you think so.” He chuckled. “But, I don’t understand what I did for you to call and tell me.”
“The rose.” She reclined, propping her feet on the desk. “It was sweet.”
“What rose?”
“You snuck into the station and left this yellow rose on my desk.” She dangled it from her fingers. “Sly devil.”
“I didn’t leave you a rose.”
She stopped wiggling her feet. “What?”
“When I do a romantic gesture, I make sure the woman knows it’s coming from me.”
“If you didn’t give me the rose then who did?”
“Sounds like you have a secret admirer.” He hummed. “Should I be jealous?”
Connie scanned the chaotic cops but nothing stood out from the ordinary.
“Connie? You still there?”
“Yeah.” She set down the flower.
“Disappointed?”
“A little.”
“I’m sorry, sweetie. Come to my place tonight and you’ll get more than flowers.”
She smirked.
“We can have some of Sylvia’s famous fried chicken. She’ll take care of the main meal and I’ll take care of dessert.”
She laughed. “Sounds good.”
Dee flounced to her desk.
Connie stuffed the rose in a drawer. “I’ll see you later.” She hung up, smiling at Dee.
“You and Grayson have plans tonight?” Dee sat at her desk and tapped her computer to wake it.
“Do you have an issue with that?” Connie brushed chip crumbs off her desk and into the wastebasket. “Thought you accepted me seeing Grayson.”
“Girl, please.” Dee flashed an overzealous smile full of teeth. “I got a man and a baby to worry about. Grayson called me and congratulated me on the baby.”
“Your friendship means a lot.” Connie swayed in the chair. “I hope this never comes between us.”
“It’s fine.” Dee stared at her computer but Connie got the feeling she wasn’t reading it. “I’m happy for you.”
Connie smiled and when she faced ahead, caught CeCe’s penetrating stare from across the room.
He smiled back, and as if a light switched on, she realized he’d given her the rose.
CHAPTER SEVEN
“You heard me.” Jonathan grabbed Rena in the garden, causing the strap of her linen dress to slip from her shoulder. “I wanted you last night.”
“I was tired.” Loose, yellow ringlets fell from the banana clip that bound her hair. “I’ve had a lot on my mind.”
“This is about Deidra, isn’t it
? You miss her? I miss her too.”
“It’s not that.” She lowered her head, her soft, voluptuous body deflating under his touch.
“You’ve been avoiding me.”
“You have a house full of women who fight to lie with you every moment of the day—”
“I want you.” He got in her face, breathing hard. “I miss your body and how soft you are.” His gaze massaged her plump breasts and luscious hips. “Tell me what’s wrong. Let’s have it out.”
She closed her chestnut brown eyes. “It’s not that easy.”
“Make it easy.” He clamped his teeth. “I’m sick of this attitude.”
“You expect me to lie with you?” She shook her head, face painted with disgust. “How can I when I can’t look at you? How could you do that to Deidra?”
“This again?”
“You raped her, Jonathan.” Her glossy lips trembled. “No matter how you dress it up.”
“It wasn’t rape, and I had every right to do it.” He stuck his fist between them. “Deidra is a part of The Circle and she belongs to me. You all do.” He grabbed her, her flesh molding to his touch. “You don’t have the right to refuse me, Rena.”
“It’s my body.”
“It’s mine now. You have a choice. Do you wanna be here or not?”
“I’ve been nothing but loyal to you.”
“Funny.” He circled her and stopped behind her, ogling her plump ass underneath the thin linen. “You seem more loyal to Deidra than anyone. She wants you to be a witness against me, doesn’t she?” He rolled his eyes. “There was no rape because she wanted to be here. She wanted to be here with me.”
“What has happened to you, Jonathan?” She tilted her head. “Let Deidra be with Winston and her baby.”
“I’ll never let her go!” He quivered, spit flying from his mouth. “Not as long as I’m breathing. She vowed to stand with us and I’ll make sure she does.”
“What about the baby?”
“It’s mine.” He yanked the quarter sleeve of his shirt. “I’ll have Deidra and raise the baby as my own.”
“Are you going to kidnap her again?”
“What you need to worry about is you.” He touched her cheek. “Make your decision here and now. You’re either with The Circle or you’re not. And if not, you’re free to go but to what I don’t know.”
“This is my home.”
He pushed his forehead against hers, sniffing her passion fruit perfume. “You’ll do everything I say when I say it.” He pinched her breast through the dress. “You come to my room tonight.” He kissed her. “Then we’ll both come.”
“Stop,” Emma yelled through the garden. “Let me go!”
“Come on.” A man’s boisterous laugh followed. “Don’t be like that.”
“Get off me,” Emma screamed.
“What the?” Jonathan dashed past Rena, ran through the pathway and ended up at the daybed.
“Stop!” Emma tussled as a gangling man with chalky-white skin held her by the waist from the back, bouncing her on his lap. “Let me go!”
The man held a lusty grin. “You know you like it.”
“What the fuck are you doing?” Jonathan grabbed Emma. “Are you all right?”
“He wouldn’t let me go.” She fixed her dress. “I brought fruit like Tran said and he grabbed me.” Tiny strands of her blonde hair stood from her head as she ran into Rena’s arms.
“Are you okay?” Rena stroked Emma’s cheek.
“Who the fuck are you?” Jonathan grabbed the man by his collar. “How did you get in here? How dare you put your hands on her?” He threw him to the grass.
“Ha, ha!” The man caught the cigarette he’d tucked behind his ear. “Didn’t mean no harm.”
“How did you get in here?” Jonathan stood over him. “Answer me while you still got the chance.”
“Funny.” The man hopped to his feet wearing white high top Fila sneakers with black soles. “I assumed you were expecting me, right? Tran let me in.” He batted his beady, blue eyes, taking out his badge. “I’m Detective Kelley Strickland.” He tossed the badge to Jonathan. “Lucian’s contact.”
Jonathan groaned, hating he’d have to put up with this asshole. “That doesn’t explain what you were doing with Emma.”
“Me and Emma were getting acquainted.” He rocked on his heels with his hands in the pockets of his slim-fitting indigo jeans. “Ooh.” He sucked his teeth, gazing at Rena. “And you are?”
“Rena.” She squinted, moving away from him.
“Rena,” he sang. “That name slides off my tongue like I was born to say it.” He cackled, ogling her bust. “You’re a thick one, aren’t you?”
Her lips twisted. “And, you’re a pig.”
“Oh, ho, ho!” He hopped, slapping his palms together. “She’s feisty too.” He leaned into her, winking. “Maybe I’ll find out how feisty, huh?”
“Leave us,” Jonathan instructed the women.
Rena and Emma left with Strickland’s full attention on Rena.
“Mm, Rena.” The tip of his tongue peeked from his lips. “I love a woman with some meat on her bones. God, you’re one lucky man to have all this prime pussy walking around. Can’t say I’m not jealous.”
“I have rules, Detective.” Jonathan gave him his badge back. “No one puts their hands on anything here and I mean anything. I own this place and everything in it.”
“That you do, sir.” Strickland scooted onto the daybed, pushing the badge in his pocket. “You can’t blame a man for having a little fun, can you? Don’t be so greedy. You have them all the time. Might as well share—”
“I invited you here to talk about the plan. Keep your mind on business.”
“It’s so hard to with all these chicks around.” He swung his legs. “I’m coming thinking about ‘em. What’s that tall one with the wavy black hair and the attitude?” He grabbed his middle. “Shauna? I’d like to oil my bat in her snatch, I tell you.”
Jonathan glared at him, becoming more nauseated the more Strickland spoke.
“All right.” Strickland straightened up, easing the nasty grin. “You wanna talk business and not pleasure. Let’s talk.”
“Lucian said you could deliver what I needed.”
“Oh yeah.” A mild breeze massaged the top of Strickland’s jet black hair, which he wore short on the sides with the top in tall spikes. “If there’s one man for this job it’s me.”
“How do I know I can trust you?”
“Because I love money more than anything.” He rolled the cigarette behind his ear. “Except pussy.”
Jonathan sighed. “The classic dirty cop.”
“Call me anything you want as long as you pay me.”
“If you can pull this off, you’ll get three hundred thousand.”
“I don’t know.” Strickland made a sucking nose, wiggling his head. “You got millions on top of millions. Three hundred thousand sounds cheap.”
“We agreed on that.”
“You and Lucian agreed. I need a lot more for what you expect me to do.”
“You’ll get your money when the job’s done.” Jonathan got an orange slice from the fruit tray. “If you got a problem with that I’m sure I can find someone else to do the job.”
“You need my connections to pull this off or else I wouldn’t be here.” Strickland held out his hand. “Do we have a deal?”
Not having a choice, Jonathan shook on it. “Come inside and I’ll explain what I need in more detail.”
“Eh, hold on.” Strickland stood, tugging at his jeans. “I don’t like to jump right into business. How about a down payment? That’s fair, isn’t it?”
Jonathan swallowed the orange. “How much do you want?”
“It’s not money.” He stuck his lips out to the side. “I want that sexpot with the voluptuous hips and big tits that was standing right there. Let me fuck her.”
“Are you serious?” Jonathan threw out his chest. “The only thing around here you
can fuck is yourself.”
“Is pleasure with Rena too much to ask for getting Deidra back?”
“Go to hell. I’m not running a damn brothel.”
“Those are your mistresses and they do whatever you tell them to.” Strickland’s eyes narrowed. “So, tell Rena I want her right now or you can find someone else to do your dirty work for you.”
“You can leave.” Jonathan pointed toward the path.
“Fine.” Strickland moseyed across the pavement. “A shame you don’t love Deidra as much as you claim.”
Jonathan exhaled, pushing away disgust to remember the wonderful life he and Deidra could have together. “Wait.”
Strickland stopped, peeking over his shoulder. “Yes?”
“Wait.” Jonathan marched past him, huffing. “I’ll get Rena.”
“That’s a good boy.”
CHAPTER EIGHT
“Are you insane?” Rena jumped from her queen-sized bed. “The answer is no! How can you even ask this of me, Jonathan?”
“I don’t like it any more than you do but sacrificing is a necessity for The Circle and this is one of those times.”
“You want to pass me on to that creep like I’m some whore.”
He groaned. “Rena—”
“I won’t do this.” She crossed her arms. “I’m not having sex with that man.”
“You’ll do what I say.” He backhand slapped her, knocking her on the bed.
“Ah.” She huffed and puffed, rubbing her cheek. “Jonathan.”
“You don’t say no to me.” He raised his hand again. “You want more?”
“No,” she begged, reaching out to him. “Jonathan, please. Please don’t make me do this.” She sobbed. “Please.”
He lowered his arm. “Nothing will stop me from having Deidra. Stop sniveling like a baby. It’s just sex, Rena. It won’t kill you to spend a little time with him. I need Strickland and you’ll make him happy.” He pulled her from the bed. “You hear me? You’ll give him the best fuck of his life and then you can forget him.” He went to the door. “Now fix yourself up.”
Shivering, she wiped away the tears and straightened her dress.
